Fence



(No Model.)

D. W. THOMAS.

l FENCE. No. 528,828. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.*

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL WV. THOMAS, PITTSBURG, OHIO.

FENCE'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,828, dated November6, 1894.

Application filed April 6, 1894. Serial No. 506,623. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that LDANIEL W. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county'of Darke and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Fence, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in fences.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofwire fences, to provide a firm and secure support for the same, and toenable the wires thereof to be readily maintained at the desiredtension, and to permit the tension of the wires to be readily regulatedat any time.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a fenceconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail perspective View of the upper portion of the fence post. Fig. 3is a horizontal sectional View of the wire-stretcher and fastener.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a fence post composed of vertical parallel spaced hars 2,constructed preferably of metal, and supported above the ground by apair of inverted V-shaped braces 3, having rounded apexes et, secured tothe post at opposite sides thereof. The sides of the inverted V-shapedbraces incline down- .Ward and diverge outwardly, and have theirterminals bent at an angle to provide securing plates 5, and arefastened to the upper faces of horizontal anchors 6, which arepreferably rectangular in cross-section. The fence post is maintained ina verticalposition by an inclined straight brace 7, extending from thelower end of the post to the outer-"anchor 6, and having its endssecured to the post between the bars thereof and to the upper face ofthe anchor, the other anchor being arranged at the inner side of thepost, below the fence wires 8.

The fence wires 8 pass between the bars 2 of the post, are securedthereto and maintained at the desired tension by a series ofwire-stretchers 9, varran ged on the outer edges of the bars 2, andmaintained thereon by the tension of the fence wires without theemployment of fastening devices.

Each wire-stretcher comprises an approximately rectangularhorizontally-disposed frame 10, a windlass shaft or sleeve 11, journaledon the sides of the frame in openings 12 thereof, and provided at oneend with a ratchet-wheel or Iiange 13, and a pivoted pawl 14, mounted onthe frame adjacent to the ratchet-teeth 13. The inner ends of the sidesof the frame are bent outward to provide vertical anges 15, which litagainst the outer edges of the bars 2 of the post 1, and the tension ofthe wire, as before stated, retains the wire-stretcher on the postdetachably. The sleeve is perforated, at 16, at opposite sides toreceive the adjacent end of the fence wire, and it has secured in itsend not having the ratchet a plug 17, provided with an outer squaredportion 18, adapted to be engaged by a wrench or similar tool forrotating the sleeve to tighten a fence wire. The fastening device 19,for securing the plug in the sleeve, also serves to retain the latter inthe openings of the rectangular frame.

It will be seen that the fence is simple, inexpensive, strong anddurable, that the end post is firmly braced and supported and that thefence wires are maintained at the desired tension and are adapted tohave their tension regulated to suit the temperature to prevent vthemfrom being broken by contraction,or

loosened by expansion.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to withoutdeparting from theprinciple or sacrificing anyof the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is@ 1. In a fence, the combination of a post, a pair ofinverted V-shaped braces secured at their apeXes to the post, atoppositesides thereof and supporting the same above the ground and astraight brace extending from the fence post below its attachment to theinverted V-shaped braces, and maintaining the post in a verticalposition substantially as described.

2. In a fence, the combination of a post, a

IOO

pair of inverted V-shaped braces arranged at opposite sides of the postand secuiredat their apexes thereto, and supporting the same above theground anchors supporting the lower ends of the sides of said braces,and a straight brace extending from the bottom of the post and securedthereto and having its other end secured between the adjacent sides ofthe V-shaped braces, and maintaining the post in a vertical positionsubstantially as described.

3. In afence, the combination of apost com` posed of vertical parallelspaced bars, theinverted V-shaped braces arranged at opposite sides ofthe post and supporting the latter above the ground and secured at theirapexes thereto, and having their sides diverging, transversely-disposedanchors su p porting the braces and secured thereto, and a straightbrace having its inner end secured between the bars of the post andhaving its other end fastened to the outer anchor, substantially asdescribed.

4L. In a fence, the combination of a post,

wires, and a series of wire-stretchers each comprising a horizontallydisposed rectangular frame constructed of a simple piece of metal andhaving the inner ends of its sides bent at an angle and bearing againstthe post, said sides being provided with bearing-openings, a sleevejournaled in the bearing-open ings and having a wire connected to it andprovided at one end with ratchet-teeth, a plug arranged in the other endof the sleeve and having a polygonal portion to be engaged by a wrench,the fastening device 19 passing through the sleeve and the plug andprojecting therefrom to retain the sleeve in the frame and a pivotedpawl mounted on the frame and engaging the ratchet-teeth, substantiallyas described. H

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL W. THOMAS. Witnesses:

H. C. SNYDER, L. EIGKELBERGER.

